What are short, purposeful journeys?
An active travel journey is walking or cycling to carry out everyday tasks that you would otherwise use a car for. For example:
- Walking your child/grandchild to and from school
- Walking or cycling to and from work
- Walking or cycling to the local train or bus station to catch the train for an onward journey
- Walking or cycling to the local shop
- Walking or cycling to the local pharmacy or healthcare centre
Please watch our animation to find out more information on active travel.
What is Blaenau Gwent CBC doing about Active Travel in the community?
With the help of the Active Travel Fund, administered by Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, Blaenau Gwent CBC has been able to improve its existing network and plan for future active travel routes with the aim of making active travel safer, easier and more enjoyable for users.
The active travel measures implemented to date vary from minor works such as the installation of dropped kerbs and tactile paving along our highway network, to larger scale measures, which include the construction of new shared use (walking and cycling) routes and signalised crossings. We also undertake feasibility and design works for new routes that are planned for construction in future years.
We have joined up with pedestrian charity Living Streets to help promote active travel in schools by implementing the Walk Once a Week (WOW) Challenge to eight of its primary schools across the borough. The challenge is a two-year, pupil-led initiative where pupils self-report how they get to school every day using an interactive WOW travel tracker. If they travel sustainably at least once a week for a month they are rewarded with a badge. Since starting the challenge, there has been a 73 per cent increase in active travel modes of transport amongst the eight participating schools and a 43 per cent decrease of journeys being undertaken completely by car (some pupils being driven by car to school are now getting dropped off further away from school so that part of their school journey can be walked). The current challenge is due to end in July 2025.
We have developed an Active Travel Network Map (ATNM), including developing new (future) routes and improving existing ones so that residents and visitors can see where our existing routes are and where our future route are planned. The ATNM is reviewed every four years, and the next update is due in 2026. Our current ATNM can be found here: DataMapWales
If you know of any routes within Blaenau Gwent that may need improving for walking and cycling, please or require any more information on active travel, please contact Kathryn Childs – Active Travel Support Officer by email to kathryn.childs@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.
Planned Active Travel Schemes 2026/2027
- Active Travel Network Map Review - assessment of existing routes and identification of potential network amendments.
- Detailed design of active travel improvements along A467 between Brynmawr and Blaina
- New signalised crossing
- Installation of bike shelters at secondary schools
- Installation of uncontrolled crossings.
- Georgetown School Network Development Plan
- Continuing with the WOW Challenge in ten of our primary schools.
Completed Schemes
Glyncoed Active Travel Route, southern extension
Intermediate Road, Brynmawr: Active Travel Improvements
Installation of ramp and refurbishment of steps near Aneurin Place, Brynmawr
Toucan crossing – Darren Felin Road, Brynmawr
Glyncoed North/South Link, Ebbw Vale
Toucan crossing - A4047 outside Morrisons Supermarket, Ebbw Vale
Dropped kerbs & tactile paving along junctions in King Street, Brynmawr
Dropped kerbs & tactile paving Glandwr Street, Abertillery
Footpath Widening, resurfacing and dropped kerbs & tactile paving, Gwent Way, Tredegar
Ystruth, Blaina
Crossing, Blaina Road, Brynmawr
Toucan crossing – Badminton Grove, Ebbw Vale
Dropped kerbs & tactile paving at Meadow Street, Llanhilleth
We want to make active travel a normal part of everyday life; walking or cycling for our short journeys, instead of taking the car, is healthier for us and great for the environment too.
Let’s makes Blaenau Gwent a better place to live, work and visit, for ourselves and future generations.
If you would like to get involved and help develop your local active travel network the please contact Kathryn Childs - Partnerships & Engagement Support Officer (Active Travel) activetravel@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk or visit this page for future updates.